On the Astros: Offense sputters against Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – At some point, it becomes about the offense with no other qualifications, and that point may just have been Monday.

Not about the blown save that burns a little brighter. Not about the couple of wins in there that covered up a week-long problem. Not about the ballpark. Not only about the other guy on the mound, because Bob Gibson, Kevin Brown and Doug Drabek weren’t the pitchers of record when the slump began against the Cardinals, Marlins and Pirates, nor was Steve Carlton on the mound for the Phillies, though Joe Blanton was outstanding Monday.

It’s starting to be about just the offense, which generated nothing more than Marwin Gonzalez’s pinch homer – the first long ball of his major league career – in the Astros’ 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

In their last eight games, including two that went 12 innings, the Astros have managed just 13 runs, an average of 1.52 per nine innings.

Three runs the limit

They joined the San Diego Padres, who ended their streak Monday, as the only teams in baseball this season to go eight straight games without scoring more than three runs in any of them. The last time the Astros had a longer streak was in 1991.

What started out as a problem of timing, which really wasn’t as much of a problem as the Astros made it out to be, is now a considerably worse problem.

“Earlier in the year, we talked about runners in scoring position and so forth,” manager Brad Mills said. “Now we want to get a few more runners on.”

Blanton was the latest to hold the group down, pitching seven scoreless innings before serving up the home run to Gonzalez to begin the eighth. Jose Altuve singled and stole second, sending the tying run to the plate three times in what was then a 3-1 game. But Justin Maxwell was sent to pinch-hit for lefty Jordan Schafer against lefty Antonio Bastardo and struck out, as did Jed Lowrie before Carlos Lee flied out to end the threat.

The Phillies had scored three times on some good bottom-of-the-order production and a costly Lowrie error as he got caught between throwing to second for a force or to first. And after the Astros found their only life on offense, Placido Polanco got the run back plus another as he went deep off David Carpenter for a 5-1 lead.

Astros starter Lucas Harrell cruised through the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth thanks to the error, and Freddy Galvis singled home the first run. A Shane Victorino triple started the sixth inning, which escalated with a double by John Mayberry Jr. that ended the night of a visibly frustrated starter.

“That’s the best I’ve thrown all year, hands down,” Harrell said. “They only hit two balls hard – Victorino and the ball I left a little down and in to Mayberry.”

Harrell, who allowed three runs (two earned) in his 52⁄3 innings, said he wanted to stay in, walk Galvis and pitch to Blanton to get out of the jam, but Mills went to Wilton Lopez and opted to pitch to Galvis, who singled to plate the game’s third run.

Already out of reach

That Travis Buck prevented a fourth from scoring with his strong throw home would prove to be simply decorative for the statistics. It was already as many runs allowed as the Astros had scored in a game since May 5. The offense, so good for the first month of the season, is in a legitimate slumber.

“I think we’re hitting balls hard, just not getting a whole lot to fall,” said Lowrie, who was 0-for-3 to bring his individual slump to 3-for-30. “It’s just one of those compounded things right now where we haven’t been getting anything going.

“We have to find a way to bust out of it.”

Phillies 5, Astros 1

Tipping point: The Astros were set up for a quick strike after a slow seven innings as Marwin Gonzalez homered to lead off the eighth, and Jose Altuve singled. But Justin Maxwell, Jed Lowrie and Carlos Lee couldn’t get the run home, and the Astros didn’t threaten in the ninth.

On the mound: Lucas Harrell had the sinker working even into the innings that went sour behind him. What he called the two bad pitches both went for extra-bases ending his night. The staff isn’t too taxed if Tuesday has to be a big bullpen day with the starting pitching uncertainty.

At the plate: More of the moribund same. Their run totals the last eight games: 1, 0, 3, 3, 1, 2, 2 and now 1.

Under the radar: No. 8 hitters have done the Astros no favors the last couple of days. Sunday, it was the decision to go ahead and hit Marwin Gonzalez with the bases loaded to no avail, while Monday, they went ahead and pitched to Freddy Galvis, who drove in the Phillies’ third run with a base open and the pitcher on deck.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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<b><center>Tuesday, May 15: Phillies 4, Astros 3, 10 innings</center></b>
Hunter Pence's second home run of the game won it for the Phillies in the 10th inning.

<b><center>Tuesday, May 15: Phillies 4, Astros 3, 10 innings</center></b>
Hunter Pence's second home run of the game won it for the Phillies in the 10th inning.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Astros closer Brett Myers walks off the field after Hunter Pence's solo homer to win the game in the 10th inning.

Astros closer Brett Myers walks off the field after Hunter Pence's solo homer to win the game in the 10th inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Jordan Lyles, called up specifically to pitch this game, had a solid outing despite the outcome. He went six innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out four.

Jordan Lyles, called up specifically to pitch this game, had a solid outing despite the outcome. He went six innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out four.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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John Mayberry of the Phillies is tagged out at home by catcher Jason Castro.

John Mayberry of the Phillies is tagged out at home by catcher Jason Castro.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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J.D. Martinez ended his 0-for-26 slump with two hits for the Astros.

J.D. Martinez ended his 0-for-26 slump with two hits for the Astros.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Freddy Galvis leaps to avoid the slide of Jason Castro after Galvis threw to first to complete a double play on a ball hit by Houston's Marwin Gonzalez in the eighth.

Freddy Galvis leaps to avoid the slide of Jason Castro after Galvis threw to first to complete a double play on a ball hit by Houston's Marwin Gonzalez in the eighth.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Hunter Pence breaks his bat as he grounds out to end the first inning.

Hunter Pence breaks his bat as he grounds out to end the first inning.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Phillies starter Cliff Lee struck out 10 in eight innings and allowed just one run but is still looking for his first win.

Phillies starter Cliff Lee struck out 10 in eight innings and allowed just one run but is still looking for his first win.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Freddy Galvis, left moves to tag out Houston Astros' Justin Maxwell as Maxwell attempted to steal second base in the first inning.

Freddy Galvis, left moves to tag out Houston Astros' Justin Maxwell as Maxwell attempted to steal second base in the first inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Jordan Lyles stands on the mound after Philadelphia' Brian Schneider hit a two-run home run in the second inning.

Jordan Lyles stands on the mound after Philadelphia' Brian Schneider hit a two-run home run in the second inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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<b><center>May 14: Phillies 5, Astros 1</center></b>
Pitcher Lucas Harrell allowed three runs on five hits to drop his record to 2-3.

<b><center>May 14: Phillies 5, Astros 1</center></b>
Pitcher Lucas Harrell allowed three runs on five hits to drop his record to 2-3.

Photo: H. Rumph Jr / Associated Press

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Pitcher Lucas Harrell throws against the Phillies in the first inning.

Pitcher Lucas Harrell throws against the Phillies in the first inning.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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Brian Bogusevic throws his bat after striking out against the Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 14, 2012, in Philadelphia.

Brian Bogusevic throws his bat after striking out against the Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 14, 2012, in Philadelphia.

Photo: H. Rumph Jr / Associated Press

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First baseman Carlos Lee follows through on a hit.

First baseman Carlos Lee follows through on a hit.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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John Mayberry Jr. (15) #15 of the Phillies gets tagged out at home plate by Chris Snyder.

John Mayberry Jr. (15) #15 of the Phillies gets tagged out at home plate by Chris Snyder.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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Travis Buck comments to home plate umpire Jerry Layne after striking out in the ninth inning.

Travis Buck comments to home plate umpire Jerry Layne after striking out in the ninth inning.